• Formal acknowledgment of the resignation of Angel Vasquez as as the former Board Chair
• Recognition of contributions from the former Chair and staff representative

• No community members signed up for public comment
• Student representative was not present

Presented by: Dr. Karen Valbrun, Executive Director & Leadership Team

Key Dates & Events (May):

• May 1: High School Decision Day
• May 8: Caregiver Appreciation Breakfast
• May 14: National Honor Society Induction
• May 16: Kindness Closet & Registration Event
• May 18: Family Zoom Meeting
• May 20: Arts Festival (Dance, Music, Art)
• May 29–30: Parent-Teacher Conferences
• Staff Appreciation Week (early May)

School Culture & Highlights:

• Continued emphasis on strong school community and family culture
• Student and alumni engagement highlighted through school-produced media
• Successful March events: Literacy Night, college tours, student portraits

Parent Survey Results (April):

• Overall positive feedback (~90% favorable)
• Strengths: safety, communication, engagement, academic progress
• Identified opportunity for continued improvement toward 100% satisfaction

ACADEMIC UPDATES

Presented by: Li'Esha Garcia, CFOO

Middle School:

• Strong preparation for state exams
• Performance highlights:
  • Math & Science averages ~78–88% on internal assessments
  • ELA proficiency: 55–70% across grades
• Staff collaboration noted as a major strength

Presented by: Fred Givens, HS Principal 

High School:

• Regents prep showed growth across most subjects
• 100% college acceptance (pending final CUNY application resolution)
• $8.2 million in scholarships and financial aid secured
• Notable acceptances include: NYU, University of Michigan, Boston University, Middlebury

Student Survey (Grades 9–12):

• 67% participation (278 students)
• Majority responses ranged from “somewhat agree” to “agree” across:
  • Engagement
  • Sense of belonging
  • Teacher support
• Areas for growth: perceptions of fairness in rules and consequences
• Board requested qualitative feedback to be shared at a future meeting

Presented by: Li'Esha Garcia, CFOO

Enrollment & Operations 

• Current enrollment: 593 students
• Projected enrollment: 630 students
• Enrollment decline since 2019: 22% decrease
• District comparison decline: 13%

Recruitment Efforts:

• Continued outreach to families and community partners
• Follow-up with applicants to secure enrollment commitments

Financial Report

Revenue & Expenses:

• Total revenue: ~$13.45M
• Total expenses: ~$13.26M
• Operating margin remains extremely tight

Key Financial Concerns:

• $1.7M below budget due to enrollment decline
• $2M annual facility costs
• Limited liquidity despite meeting debt obligations

Year-to-Date Position:

• ~$228K surplus (subject to year-end salary accrals)

Conclusion:

• Financial sustainability requires restructuring and operational changes

Presented by: Dr. Karen Valbrun Executive Director 

Strategic Initiative: 6–12 Grade Model

• Transition to unified Grades 6–12 structure
• Goals:
  • Improve academic continuity
  • Strengthen student relationships
  • Provide earlier access to advanced coursework
• Organizational restructuring to begin May–June

• Not held